Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

ALLEN PARK -- It's Calvin Johnson's left knee that been hurting for weeks. It's amazing that it's not his shoulders with all the weight that is placed on them.

The wide receiver carries a heavy load for the Detroit Lions offense.

"He's an elite player. In my opinion the best receiver in football. Maybe the best one when it's all said and done ever,'' Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said.

The Lions (4-5) play a game that's pivotal for the season Sunday at Ford Field against the Green Bay Packers (6-3) who will be missing two key elements on their defense -- linebacker Clay Matthews and safety Charles Woodson.

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Still, it won't be easy for the Lions offense which is carried by Matthew Stafford and Johnson.

"(Calvin) carries a lot of weight when it comes to having to do some things a lot of receivers don't have to do,'' Linehan said. "I mean, he makes plays and has production. I'd say his production is unprecedented based on having three guys covering him every week and to be where he is as far as catches and yards and all those things. But he has ability to do that and he carries us a lot of times."

Johnson is good with it.

"The main thing is just do your job the best you can, don't try to do anybody else's,'' the always humble Johnson said.

Johnson had a career-high 12 catches in the loss to the Vikings last Sunday, along with 207 receiving yards. He also caught his first touchdown of the year from Stafford.

He looked like he was in pain and often was slow to get back up on his feet after a catch.

"Last game I took some shots to the head. So I was taking my time,'' Johnson said. "The one time I got up real fast, you find yourself sitting back down.''

It looked like a few of the Vikings were targeting the big guy's head.

Coach Jim Schwartz mentioned it after the game, specifically hits by safety Harrison Smith, who was not penalized, and linebacker Jasper Brinkley who was penalized and subsequently fined $21,000.

Johnson said the Smith hit was hard and fast.

"I knew I took a shot on that one. I knew that from when it happened,'' Johnson said. "It didn't look like nothing on film because it happened so fast.''

The Vikings Chad Greenway got him in the first matchup on Sept. 30. He hit Johnson hard enough that Johnson had to pass a concussion test to get back in the game.

The man known as Megatron said he's not sure his head is a target.

"I don't know it's hard to do, it's hefty on the pocket, those fines,'' Johnson said. "If they are it's not very smart on their part. I took some shots, but that's football though.''

Johnson needs just 26 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark this season. With 974 yards, he has twice as many receiving yards as any other player for the Lions. Brandon Pettigrew is the closest with 417 yards and two touchdowns. Titus Young has 359 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

The production is there even though Johnson has been struggling much of the season with a bad left knee. He can't always practice, saving the knee for Sundays. He's fighting through it.

"I don't know where he is, but he's definitely getting better for him to be able to get to the point where he was able to play the minutes he's played,'' Linehan said. "And really not being able to practice full-time says a lot about his toughness. He's always one of the toughest guys I've been around, but this is taking it to a new level."